DJ is Writing: September 2022

Saturday, September 10, 2022

The Exhumation by Nick Padron -- A Quick Book Review

Cover Image Courtesy of
TouchPoint Press

A poignant companion piece to For Whom The Bell Tolls

This book, set in war torn Spain in 1937 begins, presumably, where Hemingway's masterpiece left off. Three Americans are tasked with bringing the body of one Robert Jordan home from the Spanish Civil War.

Suffice to say that if you are a fan of Hemingway's classic work For Whom the Bell Tolls, you will really enjoy this work. I never got to this particular Hemingway, having been introduced to The Old Man and the Sea in high school. That was enough Hemingway for me.

But I enjoyed The Exhumation. I'm more of a movie person, and the ambiance of this novel conjured images of a Turner Classic, Bogart, Casablanca tale. What I'm trying to say is that you don't necessarily need to be up on your Hemingway to enjoy it. But if you are, you probably will.

The Latest Book -- Perfect Sacrifices -- The Kirkus Review

This third installment of Johnson’s Perfect Prophet supernatural thriller series finds family and friends caught in a cult’s web of rituals and retribution. Devil worshipping death-metal guitarist Alec Lowell left all that behind to become a faith healer. In the same vein, his Satanist half-brother, Lucas, lives a quiet life in a Wisconsin cemetery after leaving a cult. But now cult members want Lucas as a sacrifice for “the Dark One.” When they snatch Ally Reeves, an innocent teen girl, Lucas is convinced it’s to draw him into the open. He rushes to help her, but she isn’t the only person these vicious people have their sights on: It’s not long before others in the half-brothers’ orbit are in jeopardy, including Alec’s ex-wife, Belinda, and their son, Jake, as well as Jake’s girlfriend, Maggie. Lucas isn’t on the best of terms with everyone—as a member of the cult, he once kidnapped Jake “with some deranged notion to repent for his sins.” Nevertheless, they’ll need to rely on one another to stand against a group of merciless killers. As in the series’ previous installments, the story is bleak and violent, sometimes graphically so (“Shein’s abductor pried open his jaw while the female assistant grabbed hold of the tongue with a spring clamp…”). The narrative moves at a blistering pace, dishing out copious twists throughout rather than saving them for the final act. This sequel nudges the spotlight away from the half-brothers and allows the outstanding supporting cast to shine, especially Belinda and Maggie. The supernatural elements are understated; magic is in play but no single character is all powerful (that doesn’t make the villains any less horrifying as they seemingly come out of nowhere). The author deftly integrates pre-existing subplots and character relationships, but readers may want to check out the preceding books first to avoid spoilers. While a fourth installment is possible, this one concludes on a satisfying note. A somber, kinetically charged, character-driven sequel. -- Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/diane-m-johnson/perfect-sacrifices/